One of the most inspiring people in my life, Coby Kozlowski, introduced me to the term Living Sadhana. In its simplest terms, it's a daily spiritual practice to establish good habits. Coby had encouraged me to commit to some kind of routine for at least 40 days at a time. I’ve tried out a few routines, including dancing to a few songs every morning and throwing on some glitter before I left the house each day. But when I relocated to California 2 months ago I wanted a Living Sadhana that would help me adjust to the complex experience of living in a new city. So, I decided to write about it every day. This is what I learned:

1. You don’t need a lot of stuff

I lived in my friend’s closet for the first 3 weeks. Yes, a closet. I drove out to California with whatever I could fit in my car, so it didn’t feel like I had a lot to begin with. However, after a few days of closet living, I felt like I actually packed more than I needed. I got by—quite comfortably—with an air mattress, my favorite pillow and blanket, 6-7 good outfits, a yoga mat, hygiene necessities, a rice cooker, and hiking shoes.

2. If you want to be a part of something, just ask

This was another tip from Coby, and it came in handy within the first few days of the move. I heard that two of my favorite comedians would be doing a live show in my new city right around my birthday. Booking it sounded like a no-brainer, right? The issue was that I was terrified of going alone (see #5). I mustered up some courage and bought the ticket, then immediately jumped onto the Facebook event page to RSVP. There I saw a long list of fellow show-goers, and I wondered how weird it would be to ask if anyone else was flying solo and wanted to buddy up. Turns out it's not weird at all and now I’ve got a solid crew to roll with in a few weeks.

3. Choose your tribe wisely

It’s OK to ask to be a part of something, and it's also OK to express that you do NOT want to be a part of something... or someone’s company. Being alone in a new city put some pressure on me to make new friends. A seemingly normal guy casually approached me at a nude beach during my first week. We struck up a harmless conversation about sunscreen, and my immediate thought was to befriend him. After a few minutes and a handful of awkward comments, my intuition was telling me that I didn’t want this guy in my tribe. So I left. Thankfully my wit took over and I realized that it is quite alright to…

4. Take your time

With making friends, finding an apartment, and everything in between. The city isn’t going anywhere, so there is really no rush in working through that to-do list. In 60 days I wrote “take your time, don’t rush” probably about 30 times. Do your research and trust your gut!

5. Embrace the alone time

Taking my time with things forced me to be alone a lot. Rather than waiting to make friends to go on hikes with, I decided to go on hikes with my damn self! No, it's not weird to go to the bar, the movies, or the museum by yourself. In fact, sometimes when I go somewhere alone I end up making a friend (excluding suncreen nude beach guy). And if you really can’t fathom the idea of doing something alone, check out MeetUps.

6. Budget!

This is key for anyone who is moving to a new city and winging it. I started budgeting about 6 months before my move… and I still need to budget, and re-budget, each month to keep myself financially aware. I’ve gotten so tedious with my finances that I know my daily spending limits. It can be time-consuming, but its absolutely necessary if I want to have peace of mind while living off my savings. I’ve suggested this site before, and I’ll suggest it again: www.mint.com has saved my financial ass!

7. “Hold on to the triumphs”

I read this in a friend’s article about establishing a career path. I had everything going for me career-wise at home, and then I decided to pull the rug out from underneath myself by moving across the country. I started getting down on myself about the money I used to make and the recognition I used to have. Then I read this, “Don’t hold onto that one big job you had or that higher salary you acquired for a previous position. You’ll have an epic journey regardless, just keep conquering your own expectations and find optimism for what awaits you!”

8. Have your own experiences

I’m big on advice seeking. I asked as many people as many questions as possible about moving out West. I got valuable information about the cost of living, the job market, traffic, the dating scene, etc. However, there is nothing like experiencing it for yourself. One person told me that my car insurance would skyrocket in California. Turns out my insurance went down. Another told me that the area I’m considering moving to is wayyyyy out of my budget… turns out it's not. Get out there and find out for yourself.

9. New life, who dis?

Life, before I moved, was busy. I got 6 hours of sleep on a good night. I usually spent anywhere from 10-14 hours out of my home at a time. I would rush through my morning meditation and complain over practicing yoga. Each day I told myself I would hike or bike or take some time to read a book or go to the farmer’s market… but I never would. I would have to book family time weeks in advance because my schedule was unbelievably spontaneous. Once I moved I had an empty calendar and saw that as an opportunity to start a new life with a new, reasonable schedule and healthy habits. I had been gifted a planner, and I use it to literally remind myself to get enough sleep, get outside, and put my family first. I highly reccomend!

10. Hosting is exhausting

I was stoked when my best friend planned to visit me within my first month of moving, and I was exhausted after she left. Prepare wisely for having guests. If you want to show them a good time, make sure you’ve got enough time and money put aside for doing so.

11. It's OK to cry

I had my first good cry about 5 weeks in. I was at the bar, alone, getting ready to watch the NY Giants game. I was previously a season ticket holder and rarely missed a home game. Now I was 3,000 miles away watching footage of my home stadium. Then to top it off, I got a text from mom and dad: “Happy home opener, wish you were here.” *Cue the tears*. I tried to hide it for a few minutes, but then just allowed myself to cry in public. I was sad. I missed home. And everything about that was OK. Someone at the bar noticed me and took a seat next to me. I told him what the deal was. He missed home too and reassured me it would get easier. He bought me a beer and we watched the game together.

12. Life goes on with or without you

One of the most challenging things was realizing that my communities will thrive without me. Yes, I know its incredibly egotistical to think that they wouldn't… it was a hard, but good lesson to learn! They will have holidays without you. Your friends will go out without you. Your job will hire a replacement. Know that you are still loved and certainly missed, but people will keep on keepin on! Try to find the good in seeing your loved ones make due without you. And when you find that good, share it with all the new people in your life.

13. Que Sera, Sera

“Whatever will be, will be. The future is not ours to see.” Enjoy the time of transition, waiting and not knowing. Stay present, trust the wait. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible. Do whatever is necessary and the rest will fall into place. Everything will work out fine if you let it.

14. Have Fun!

Some people will live in the same place for their entire lives. Find gratitude in the opportunity to relocate, and enjoy the hell out of it!!!

Spring is in full swing here in New Jersey, and you know what that means: Outdoor Yoga! There are many exciting challenges in taking your practice outdoors, as well as some incredible benefits. Check out my 3 favorite reasons to practice yoga outdoors… and make sure you get on your mat with me this season!

1. The Ultimate Pranayama Experience

Pranayama, or regulation of the breath, is one of the most important parts of any yoga practice. One of my teachers once told me, “if you can breathe deeply, you can do yoga!” Practicing yoga outside gives your entire respiratory system a cleansing and refreshing experience. Taking in fresh air helps energize the body and supports your immune system. Additionally, the great outdoors can provide some natural and relaxing smells! Make sure to clear some of your Saturday mornings this summer to literally wake up and smell the roses as you practice with me (and the rest of the Powerflow Yoga community) at Van Vleck Gardens in Montclair, NJ. I’m on the schedule for July 22, 2017 at 8:00am.

Having enough Vitamin D in our bodies is essential to healthy living, and having Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to health risks. The easiest, cheapest and most exciting way to fill up on this vitamin is to get outside and soak up the sun! Additionally, practicing in the sunshine helps you work up a sweat, all while working on your tan. I’ll be leading and participating in some fun mid-day Spring and Summer yoga classes… including a FREE all-day challenge of 108 sun salutations on the first of Summer!

Practicing outdoors really allows you to get creative with poses that have become easy for you inside the studio. Have you ever tried hand-standing in the sand, or taking your tree pose to the edge of a cliff? How about trying to root your feet on a paddleboard while floating in the middle of lake? I challenge you to give it a try! In fact, I’ve got the perfect opportunity for you: Join me this summer for a 4 day, 3 night adventure-packed retreat in the heart of West Virginia. We start the day at 6:00am with guided meditation overlooking the New River, and end it with marshmallows and moonshine under the stars. Did I mention that we spend the entire day outdoors swimming, rafting, hiking and doing yoga? We have camping options for those who like to keep it super rural, as well as fully furnished cabins. Looking to go? Don’t wait too much longer; we only have a few spots left!

#Joblove is exactly what it sounds like. Its a hashtag to indicate that a person, does in fact, love their job, or some aspect of their job. The thing about #joblove is that it’s typically attached to certain kinds of scenarios: People traveling for work (i.e., “Charleston bound *emoji with hearts in its eyes* #joblove”). People exercising for work. People getting to wear whatever they want at work. People going to work whenever they want. People getting paid lots and lots of money to do their work. People having FUN at work. People having a kind, loving, supportive community within their workspace. You get it. #Joblove emerges when work becomes super rewarding, to the point that it doesn’t feel like… work.

Some of us might tell ourselves that these people mentioned above just got lucky, and that #joblove doesn’t exist for everyone. But I’m writing today to tell you that’s not true, and that you too can have a slice of the sweet #joblove pie. You just have to believe in it.

I’ve had some crappy jobs. Dog-walking in the dead of winter. Telemarketing. Daycare. I know what #jobhate feels like just as much as I know what #joblove feels like. It starts with these 3 things:

#1. Accepting that work is hard

If you think #joblove is defined by a lifestyle free of difficulty or stress, well then you’re not quite understanding what its really about. I have a really awesome job with Kula for Karma. But truthfully, the work can be difficult. There is a lot of problem solving. It requires I look at a computer a lot. In fact, I bring my computer almost everywhere with me. I’m on call most days of the week, even when I travel. Emails and conference calls are part of the daily routine. I do a lot of sitting. I do a lot of running around. Sometimes, like any job, it can be a lot. However, I’d much rather find myself being tested and a bit stressed out by my job, than being totally bored of it. More importantly, I’ve also found that the challenges of a tough job are so much more rewarding when you…

#2. Understand the end product

The thing that invigorates me the most about Kula for Karma is not just understanding, but experiencing our organization’s end product: getting yoga and meditation to people in need, free of cost. A few weeks ago I subbed one of Kula’s weekly yoga for cancer classes at John Theurer Cancer Center. First, I huffed and puffed about having to teach because it put some stress on my already busy schedule. But then I remembered how important it is to experience what is happening at the very end of all the work I do behind the scenes. As always, it was a heart stirring experience. These people at the cancer center (and at many other facilities) are so committed to their practice, their little yoga community, and their healthcare. They are so, so grateful for our volunteer services, and they show it to you with hugs, smiles and the admiration in their eyes. So when I got back to the computer I had a refreshed feeling and appreciation for the “work” I have to do for those people to continue to have that experience. Which leads me to my next point…

#3. Appreciating the end product

If I had gone to that yoga class and realized that it in no way, shape or form resonated with me… then #joblove wouldn’t be possible for me at Kula for Karma. I encourage you to take a moment and look your job and career. Is it hard sometimes? Does it feel like work? Remember, thats a part of the process. But what is the end product of the work you do? Have you experience experienced it, or at the very least, attempted to understand it? Do you believe in it?

All of these questions will tell you if #joblove is possible for you right now. Sure, #joblove can be slapped onto a picture of a person traveling for work, or associated with the excitement when someone receives a sweet bonus. But the true essence of this idea is being connected to what you do. #Joblove emerges when work becomes super rewarding, to the point that it doesn’t feel like… work. But that only becomes possible when you can mindfully create appreciation for the work that you do. If you can’t find or create that connection, then perhaps #joblove exists for you elsewhere.